Major improvement package for Leamington ahead of 2022 Games

Courts at a much-loved tennis club in Royal Leamington Spa are to be improved in the countdown to the town hosting the Lawn and Para Bowls for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.

Warwick District Council has been allocated £1,598,254 from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) ahead of Victoria Park’s role as an official venue to support the delivery of the Lawn Bowls and Para Bowls during the international event.

As part of the package of infrastructure improvements, work has begun on re-surfacing three of the floodlit tennis courts at Victoria Park which is scheduled to be completed this autumn.

Five courts at Victoria Park will remain open throughout the work along with courts at Christchurch Gardens, Beauchamp Avenue, for players to use.

Once this phase has been completed, improvements will be made to courts at Christchurch Gardens and the tennis pavilion at Victoria Park to make the first floor of the building more accessible to players and coaches.

The wider scheme will also include improvements to the forecourt and underpass at Leamington Spa Rail Station, for which a feasibility study is now underway on behalf of Warwickshire County Council.

This work will provide an improvement to the public realm, pedestrian experience and cycle hub provision in advance of the Games. Any changes to the forecourt will be made in sympathy to the art deco style of the Station building. The wider package also includes upgrades to the bowls venue at Victoria Park, access and transport to and from Victoria Park, green parks enhancements and wayfinding and Cycle infrastructure improvements.

In the long-term, Warwick District Council plans to refurbish the remaining seven Victoria Park courts after the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Warwick District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Culture, Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger, said: “The Council recognises the popularity of these courts, not only during the summer months, but all the year round.

“The ongoing success of these facilities is testament to the commitment made by Victoria Park Tennis Club to make tennis more accessible particularly to children and young people in our community.

“Although we are unable to resurface all of the courts at this point, we hope that this initial investment and our long-term improvement plans will allow Victoria Park Tennis Club to continue to offer their great range of coaching and competitive tennis opportunities at this venue.”

Claire Pomfret, Head Coach at Victoria Park Tennis Club, said: “After a difficult period of closures and session cancellations due to the wet winter weather and the Covid-19 pandemic, Victoria Park Tennis Club welcomes the news from Warwick District Council that the courts will be resurfaced this summer and that they have longer term plans for tennis facilities in Victoria Park.

“I would like to thank all members and non-members who have been so supportive of the club during this time and we look forward to continuing the full-time coaching and league tennis programme in the coming months.”

Anna Hart, Participation Development Partner at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), added: “The LTA’s vision is to open up tennis and its benefits to more people, and the Local Authority’s investment in Royal Leamington Spa will do just that – providing increased opportunities for locals to pick up a racket and get on court.

“These fantastic re-developed park courts will be a great addition to all of our efforts to develop the tennis offer across the town and its surrounding areas.

“We are delighted to be working so closely with Warwick District Council as a partner that shares our vision and recognises the contribution tennis can make in encouraging more people to live an active, healthy and enjoyable life.”